Structure of cap having storage space

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This Application is a Section 371 National Stage Application of International Application No. PCT/KR2005/000416, filed 16 Feb. 2005 and published as WO 2005/079169 on 1 Sep. 2005, in English, the application of which is based on and claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2004-0012050 filed on Feb. 19, 2004; Korean Patent Application No. 10-2004-0012051 filed on Feb. 19, 2004; Korean Patent Application No. 10-2004-0012053 filed on Feb. 19, 2004; Korean Patent Application No. 10-2004-0012052 filed on Feb. 19, 2004; Korean Patent Application No. 10-2004-0012049 filed on Feb. 19, 2004; Korean Patent Application No. 10-2004-0012430 filed on Feb. 20, 2004; Korean Patent Application No. 10-2004-0016674 filed on Mar. 8, 2004; Korean Patent Application No. 10-2004-0016676 filed on Mar. 8, 2004; Korean Patent Application No. 10-2004-0016675 filed on Mar. 8, 2004, the contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a cap having a storage space storing different material that can be mixed with main material contained in a container.

BACKGROUND ART

In a variety of industrial field, it is sometimes necessary to mixed two or more different materials with each other to prepare a mixture, prior to using the mixture.

For example, when it comes to beverage industrial filed, users wishes to add a variety of flavors or vitamin to the water. To this end, the user purchases the flavor or vitamin and the separated bottle water and mixes the flavor or the vitamin with the bottle water.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the present invention has been made in an effort to solve the above-described problems of the conventional art.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cap with a storage chamber for a secondary material that will be mixed with a primary material contained in a container associated with the cap by simply opening the cap.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a product employing such a cap with a storage chamber for a secondary material.

To achieve the above objects, the present invention provides a cap with a storage space for containing a secondary material includes a storage portion having a storage space and provided with a seal plate formed on a lower end of the storage space, an outer cap foldably formed on the storage portion and coupled to a spouting portion, a spouting member inserted in the spouting portion, and an operational member for breaking the seal plate when the spouting member is in operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a perspective view of a cap with a storage space according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a sectional view of <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>;

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is a perspective view illustrating a use of <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>;

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is a sectional view of a cap according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> is a sectional view of a cap according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> is a view illustrating an operational state of a cap depicted in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>;

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> is a perspective view of a modified example of a cap;

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8 through 10</figref> are views of a cap according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 11 through 13</figref> are view of a cap according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 14</figref> is a sectional view of a cap according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention;

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 15</figref> is a partial broken side view of a cap structure of the present invention;

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 16</figref> is a view illustrating an operational state of a cap of the present invention;

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 17 through 18</figref> are views of a cap according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention;

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 19 through 20</figref> are views of a cap according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention;

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 21 through 22</figref> are views of a cap according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention;

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 23 through 25</figref> are views of a cap according to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention; and

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 26 through 27</figref> are views of a cap according to a twelfth embodiment of the present invention;

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described more in detail hereinafter in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 1 through 3</figref> shows a cap according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

A cap <b>1</b> is screw-coupled to a container.

The cap <b>1</b> includes a cap main body <b>10</b> having a storage portion <b>12</b> defining a storage space <b>11</b> and an outer cap <b>20</b> coupled to the cap main body <b>10</b>.

The cap <b>1</b> includes a seal plate <b>30</b> and an operation member <b>40</b> that is designed to break the seal plate according to the operation of the outer cap <b>20</b>. The operational member <b>40</b> is located inside the storage portion <b>12</b>.

The seal plate <b>30</b> is preferably formed of synthetic resin or aluminum, being attached on a lower end of the storage portion <b>12</b>.

The cap main body <b>10</b> is provided with a folding portion <b>21</b> with a folding line <b>13</b>. A spouting portion <b>24</b> is formed on an outer surface of the folding portion <b>21</b> and coupled to the outer cap <b>20</b>. A spouting member <b>22</b> is inserted in the spouting portion <b>24</b>.

The spouting member <b>22</b> is provided with an operational projection <b>23</b> extending downward to break the seal plate <b>30</b>. A hook step <b>27</b> is formed on the spouting portion <b>24</b> to prevent the spouting member <b>22</b> from removing. A spouting hole <b>28</b> is provided to exhaust a mixture.

The spouting member <b>22</b> is provided with a spouting passage <b>25</b> and an air introduction portion <b>26</b> in a longitudinal direction.

The operational member <b>40</b> is provided with fixing portion <b>41</b> fixed inside the storage portion <b>12</b> and connected to the fixing portion <b>41</b> by a connection portion <b>42</b>.

In the above-described embodiment, in a state when different material is stored in the storage portion <b>12</b>, the seal plate <b>30</b> is attached and the cap main body <b>10</b> coupled to the outer cap <b>20</b> is fixed on the container.

In this state, the spouting portion <b>24</b> and the outer cap <b>20</b> are disposed on a horizontal plan as shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>.

At this point, as shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, when the spouting portion <b>24</b> and the outer cap <b>20</b> are pivoted to a vertical position, the folding portion <b>21</b> is moved outward by the folding line <b>13</b> and the operational projection <b>23</b> formed on the spouting portion <b>22</b> pivots to allow the operational member <b>40</b> to pivot and break the seal plate <b>30</b>.

Therefore, the different material stored in the storage portion <b>12</b> is dropt into the container to mix with main material contained in the container.

In this state, the outer cap <b>20</b> is separated and the mixture can be spouted through the spouting passage <b>25</b> through the spouting hole <b>28</b> of the spouting member <b>22</b>.

Since the spouting member <b>22</b> is vertically movable, the user can be more easily drink the mixture. Furthermore, since the air introduction portion <b>26</b> is formed on the spouting member <b>22</b>, the mixture can be effectively discharged.

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> shows a second embodiment of the present invention.

A cap main body <b>10</b> is provided with a storage space <b>11</b>. A seal plate <b>30</b> is attached on a lower end of the storage space <b>11</b>. A pouch container <b>100</b> is attached on the cap main body.

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 5 and 6</figref> shows a third embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, a seal step is formed in a space <b>51</b>.

A folding portion is integrally formed in the space <b>51</b> with a folding line <b>53</b>. A spouting portion <b>55</b> is formed in the folding portion and an outer cap <b>200</b> is coupled to the spouting portion <b>55</b>.

Referring to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref>, a protecting member <b>70</b> is formed on an opened top of the cap main body <b>10</b>, being provided with a concave portion <b>71</b>.

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 8 through 10</figref> shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

A cap <b>1</b> includes a cap main body <b>10</b> and a spouting portion <b>90</b> formed on the cap main body.

A cutting plate <b>95</b> with a pulling ring <b>94</b> is formed on the spouting portion <b>92</b>.

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 11 through 13</figref> are views of a cap according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

This embodiment is similar to the first embodiment.

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 14</figref> is a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

A withdrawal wing <b>148</b> is formed on the spouting portion <b>140</b>. In this embodiment, there is no need of an outer cap for opening the spouting portion <b>140</b>.

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 15 through 16</figref> shows a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, the container is formed of a carton bag.

An air introduction portion <b>157</b> is formed on the spouting portion <b>150</b>.

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 17 through 18</figref> shows an eighth embodiment similar to the first embodiment.

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 19 through 20</figref> shows a ninth embodiment of the present invention similar to the eighth embodiment.

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 21 through 22</figref> show a tenth embodiment of the present invention. A barrier <b>211</b> is formed on the cap main body.

A storage member <b>220</b> stores different material and is designed to be pivoted to exhaust the different material. After exhausting the different material, it functions as a spouting member for exhausting the mixture.

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 23 through 25</figref> shows an eleventh embodiment of the present invention.

A spouting portion is formed on a storage portion <b>232</b>. An operational member <b>240</b> is coupled to the storage space <b>233</b>.

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 26 through 27</figref> show a twelfth embodiment of the present invention.

An outer cap is pivotally coupled to a cap main body. The outer cap <b>20</b> is provided with a storage space <b>280</b>. A stopper <b>282</b> is formed on the outer cap, which contacts a coupling portion.

The outer cap is rotated by a predetermined angle by the stopper <b>282</b> to communicate with a seal groove <b>271</b> of the storage space <b>280</b>.

When the outer cap <b>20</b> is pivoted to a horizontal plate, the seal hole <b>271</b> is closed again.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, the present invention is directed to a pouch container with a spout assembly, in which the spout assembly can be hygienically protected. The present invention is further directed to a method for mass production of such a pouch container.